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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E S T H E R</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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A very black and mournful scene here opens, and which threatens the
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ruin of all the people of God. Were there not some such dark nights,
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the light of the morning would not be so welcome.
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I. Haman is made the king's favourite,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. Mordecai refuses to give him the honour he demands,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:2-4">ver. 2-4</A>.
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III. Haman, for his sake, vows to be revenged upon all the Jews,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:5,6">ver. 5, 6</A>.
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IV. He, upon a malicious suggestion, obtains an order from the king to
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have the all massacred upon a certain day,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:7-13">ver. 7-13</A>.
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V. This order is dispersed through the kingdom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:14,15">ver. 14, 15</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Es3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Haman's Malignant Proposal.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 510.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son
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of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat
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above all the princes that <I>were</I> with him.
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2 And all the king's servants, that <I>were</I> in the king's gate,
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bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded
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concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did <I>him</I> reverence.
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3 Then the king's servants, which <I>were</I> in the king's gate,
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said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's
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commandment?
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4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he
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hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether
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Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he
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<I>was</I> a Jew.
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5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him
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reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
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6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they
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had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to
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destroy all the Jews that <I>were</I> throughout the whole kingdom of
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Ahasuerus, <I>even</I> the people of Mordecai.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. Haman advanced by the prince, and adored thereupon by the people.
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Ahasuerus had lately laid Esther in his bosom, but she had no such
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interest in him as to get her friends preferred, or to prevent the
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preferring of one who she knew was an enemy to her people. When those
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that are good become great they still find that they cannot do good,
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nor prevent mischief, as they would. This Haman was an Agagite (an
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Amalekite, says Josephus), probably of the descendants of Agag, a
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common name of the princes of Amalek, as appears,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+24:7">Num. xxiv. 7</A>.
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Some think that he was by birth a prince, as Jehoiakim was, whose seat
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was set above the rest of the captive kings
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+25:28">2 Kings xxv. 28</A>),
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as Haman's here was,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The king took a fancy to him (princes are not bound to give reasons for
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their favours), made him his favourite, his confidant, his
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prime-minister of state. Such a commanding influence the court then had
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that (contrary to the proverb) those whom it blessed the country
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blessed too; for all men adored this rising sun, and the king's
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servants were particularly commanded <I>to bow before him and to do him
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reverence</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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and they did so. I wonder what the king saw in Haman that was
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commendable or meritorious; it is plain that he was not a man of honour
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or justice, of any true courage or steady conduct, but proud, and
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passionate, and revengeful; yet was he promoted, and caressed, and
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there was none so great as he. Princes' darlings are not always
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worthies.</P>
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<P>
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II. Mordecai adhering to his principles with a bold and daring
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resolution, and therefore refusing to reverence Haman as the rest of
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the king's servants did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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He was urged to it by his friends, who reminded him of the king's
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commandment, and consequently of the danger he incurred if he refused
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to comply with it; it was as much as his life was worth, especially
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considering Haman's insolence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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They <I>spoke daily to him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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to persuade him to conform, but all in vain: he hearkened not to them,
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but told them plainly that he was a Jew, and could not in conscience do
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it. Doubtless his refusal, when it came to be taken notice of and made
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the subject of discourse, was commonly attributed to pride and envy,
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that he would not pay respect to Haman because, on the score of his
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alliance to Esther, he was not himself as much promoted, or to a
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factious seditious spirit and a disaffection to the king and his
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government; those that would make the best of it looked upon it as his
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weakness, or his want of breeding, called it a humour, and a piece of
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affected singularity. It does not appear that any one scrupled at
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conforming to it except Mordecai; and yet his refusal was pious,
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conscientious, and pleasing to God, for the religion of a Jew forbade
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him,
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1. To give such extravagant honours as were required to any mortal man,
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especially so wicked a man as Haman was. In the apocryphal chapters of
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this book
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+13:12-14"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 12-14</A>)
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Mordecai is brought in thus appealing to God in this matter: <I>Thou
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knowest, Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any
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desire of glory, that I did not bow down to proud Haman, for I could
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have been content with good will, for the salvation of Israel, to kiss
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the soles of his feet; but I did this that I might not prefer the glory
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of man above the glory of God, neither will I worship any but thee.</I>
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2. He especially thought it a piece of injustice to his nation to give
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such honour to an Amalekite, one of that devoted nation with which God
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had sworn that he would have perpetual war
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:16">Exod. xvii. 16</A>)
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and concerning which he had given that solemn charge
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+25:17">Deut. xxv. 17</A>),
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<I>Remember what Amalek did.</I> Though religion does by no means
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destroy good manners, but teaches us to render <I>honour to whom
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honour</I> is due, yet it is the character of a citizen of Zion that
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not only in his heart, but <I>in his eyes,</I> such a <I>vile person as
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Haman was is contemned,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+15:4">Ps. xv. 4</A>.
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Let those who are governed by principles of conscience be steady and
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resolute, however censured or threatened, as Mordecai was.</P>
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<P>
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III. Haman meditating revenge. Some that hoped thereby to curry favour
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with Haman took notice to him of Mordecai's rudeness, waiting to see
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whether he would bend or break,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Haman then observed it himself, and was <I>full of wrath,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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A meek and humble man would have slighted the affront, and have said,
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"Let him have his humour; what am I the worse for it?" But it makes
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Haman's proud spirit rage, and fret, and boil, within him, so that he
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becomes uneasy to himself and all about him. It is soon resolved that
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Mordecai must die. The head must come off that will not bow to Haman;
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if he cannot have his honours, he will have his blood. It is as penal
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in this court not to worship Haman as it was in Nebuchadnezzar's not to
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worship the golden image which he had set up. Mordecai is a person of
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quality, in a post of honour, and own cousin to the queen; and yet
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Haman thinks his life nothing towards a satisfaction for the affront:
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thousands of innocent and valuable lives must be sacrificed to his
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indignation; and therefore he vows the destruction of all the people of
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Mordecai, for his sake, because his being a Jew was the reason he gave
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why he did not reverence Haman. Herein appear Haman's intolerable
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pride, insatiable cruelty, and the ancient antipathy of an Amalekite to
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the Israel of God. Saul the son of Kish, a Benjamite, spared Agag, but
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Mordecai the son of Kish, a Benjamite
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+2:5"><I>ch.</I> ii. 5</A>),
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shall find no mercy with this Agagite, whose design is to <I>destroy
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all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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which, I suppose, would include those that had returned to their own
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land, for that was now a province of his kingdom. <I>Come and let us
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cut them off from being a nation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+83:4">Ps. lxxxiii. 4</A>.
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Nero's barbarous wish is his, that they had all but one neck.</P>
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<A NAME="Es3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Es3_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Haman Obtains Leave to Slay the Jews.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 510.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 In the first month, that <I>is,</I> the month Nisan, in the
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twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that <I>is,</I> the
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lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, <I>to</I>
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the twelfth <I>month,</I> that <I>is,</I> the month Adar.
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8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people
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scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the
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provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws <I>are</I> diverse from all
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people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it <I>is</I> not
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for the king's profit to suffer them.
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9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be
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destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the
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hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring
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<I>it</I> into the king's treasuries.
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10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto
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Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
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11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver <I>is</I> given to thee,
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the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
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12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of
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the first month, and there was written according to all that
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Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the
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governors that <I>were</I> over every province, and to the rulers of
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every people of every province according to the writing thereof,
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and <I>to</I> every people after their language; in the name of king
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Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
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13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's
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provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews,
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both young and old, little children and women, in one day, <I>even</I>
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upon the thirteenth <I>day</I> of the twelfth month, which is the
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month Adar, and <I>to take</I> the spoil of them for a prey.
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14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in
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every province was published unto all people, that they should be
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ready against that day.
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15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's
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commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And
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the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was
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perplexed.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Haman values himself upon that bold and daring thought, which he
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fancied well became his great spirit, of destroying all the Jews--an
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undertaking worthy of its author, and which he promised himself would
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perpetuate his memory. He doubts not but to find desperate and bloody
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hands enough to cut all their throats if the king will but give him
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leave. How he obtained leave, and commission to do it, we are here
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told. He had the king's ear, let him alone to manage him.</P>
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<P>
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I. He makes a false and malicious representation of Jews, and their
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character, to the king,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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The enemies of God's people could not give them such bad treatment as
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they do if they did not first give them a bad name. He would have the
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king believe,
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1. That the Jews were a despicable people, and that it was not for his
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credit to harbour them:"<I>A certain people there is,</I>" without
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name, as if nobody knew whence they came and what they were; "they are
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not incorporated, <I>but scattered abroad and dispersed in all the
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provinces</I> as fugitives and vagabonds on the earth, and inmates in
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all countries, the burden and scandal of the places where they live."
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2. That they were a dangerous people, and that it was not safe to
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harbour them. "They have laws and usages of their own, and conform not
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to the statutes of the kingdom and the customs of the country; and
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therefore they may be looked upon as disaffected to the government and
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likely to infect others with their singularities, which may end in a
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rebellion." It is no new thing for the best of men to have such
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invidious characters as these given of them; if it be no sin to kill
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them, it is no sin to belie them.</P>
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<P>
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II. He bids high for leave to destroy them all,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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He knew there were many that hated the Jews, and would willingly fall
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upon them if they might but have a commission: <I>Let it be written</I>
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therefore <I>that they may be destroyed.</I> Give but orders for a
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general massacre of all the Jews, and Haman will undertake it shall be
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easily done. If the king will gratify him in this matter, he will make
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him a present of <I>ten thousand talents,</I> which shall be <I>paid
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into the king's treasuries.</I> This, he thought, would be a powerful
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inducement to the king to consent, and would obviate the strongest
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objection against him, which was that the government must needs sustain
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loss in its revenues by the destruction of so many of its subjects; so
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great a sum, he hoped, would be equivalent for that. Proud and
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malicious men will not stick at the expenses of their revenge, nor
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spare any cost to gratify it. Yet no doubt Haman knew how to re-imburse
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himself out of the spoil of the Jews, which his janizaries were to
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seize for him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
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and so to make them bear the charges of their own ruin; while he
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himself hoped to be not only a saver but a gainer by the bargain.</P>
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<P>
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III. He obtains what he desired, a full commission to do what he would
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with the Jews,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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The king was so inattentive to business, and so bewitched with Haman,
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that he took no time to examine the truth of his allegations, but was
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as willing as Haman could wish to believe the worst concerning the
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Jews, and therefore he gave them up into his hands, as lambs to the
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lion: <I>The people are thine, do with them as it seemeth good unto
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thee.</I> He does not say, "Kill them, slay them" (hoping Haman's own
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cooler thoughts would abate the rigour of that sentence and induce him
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to sell them for slaves); but "Do what thou wilt with them." And so
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little did he consider how much he should lose in his tribute, and how
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much Haman would gain in the spoil, that he gave him withal the ten
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thousand talents: <I>The silver is thine.</I> Such an implicit
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confidence likewise he had in Haman, and so perfectly had he abandoned
|
|
all care of his kingdom, that he gave Haman his ring, his privy-seal,
|
|
or sign-manual, wherewith to confirm whatever edict he pleased to draw
|
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up for this purpose. Miserable is the kingdom that is at the disposal
|
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of such a head as this, which has one ear only, and a nose to be led
|
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by, but neither eyes nor brains, nor scarcely a tongue of its own.</P>
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<P>
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IV. He then consults with his soothsayers to find out a lucky day for
|
|
the designed massacre,
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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The resolve was taken up in the first month, in the twelfth year of the
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king, when Esther had been his wife about five years. Some day or other
|
|
in that year must be pitched upon; and, as if he doubted not but that
|
|
Heaven would favour his design and further it, he refers it to <I>the
|
|
lot,</I> that is, to the divine Providence, to choose the day for him;
|
|
but that, in the decision, proved a better friend to the Jews than to
|
|
him, for the lot fell upon <I>the twelfth month,</I> so that Mordecai
|
|
and Esther had eleven months to turn themselves in for the defeating of
|
|
the design, or, if they could not defeat it, space would be left for
|
|
the Jews to make their escape and shift for their safety. Haman, though
|
|
eager to have the Jews cut off, yet will submit to the laws of his
|
|
superstition, and not anticipate the supposed fortunate day, no, not to
|
|
gratify his impatient revenge. Probably he was in some fear lest the
|
|
Jews should prove too hard for their enemies, and therefore durst not
|
|
venture on such a hazardous enterprise but under the smiles of a good
|
|
omen. This may shame us, who often acquiesce not in the directions and
|
|
disposals of Providence when they cross our desires and intentions. He
|
|
that believeth the lot, much more that believeth the promise, will not
|
|
make haste. But see how God's wisdom serves its own purposes by men's
|
|
folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and to the lot he shall go,
|
|
which, by adjourning the execution, gives judgment against him and
|
|
breaks the neck of the plot.</P>
|
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|
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<P>
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V. The bloody edict is hereupon drawn up, signed, and published, giving
|
|
orders to the militia of every province to be ready against <I>the
|
|
thirteenth day of the twelfth month,</I> and, on that day, to murder
|
|
all the Jews, men, women, and children, and seize their effects,
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:12-14"><I>v.</I> 12-14</A>.
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|
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Had the decree been to banish all the Jews and expel them out of the
|
|
king's dominions, it would have been severe enough; but surely never
|
|
any act of cruelty appeared so barefaced as this, to <I>destroy, to
|
|
kill, and to cause to perish, all the Jews,</I> appointing them <I>as
|
|
sheep for the slaughter</I> without showing any cause for so doing. No
|
|
crime is laid to their charge; it is not pretended that they were
|
|
obnoxious to the public justice, nor is any condition offered, upon
|
|
performance of which they might have their lives spared; but die they
|
|
must, without mercy. Thus have the church's enemies thirsted after
|
|
blood, the <I>blood of the saints and the martyrs of</I> Jesus, and
|
|
drunk of it till they have been perfectly intoxicated
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+17:6">Rev. xvii. 6</A>);
|
|
|
|
yet still, like <I>the horse-leech,</I> they cry, <I>Give, give.</I>
|
|
This cruel offer is ratified with the king's seal, directed to the
|
|
king's lieutenants, and drawn up in the king's name, and yet the king
|
|
knows not what he does. Posts are sent out, with all expedition, to
|
|
carry copies of the decree to the respective provinces,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how restless the malice of the church's enemies is: it will spare
|
|
no pains; it will lose no time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. The different temper of the court and city hereupon.
|
|
|
|
1. The court was very merry upon it: <I>The king and Haman sat down to
|
|
drink,</I> perhaps to drink "Confusion to all the Jews." Haman was
|
|
afraid lest the king's conscience should smite him for what he had done
|
|
and he should begin to wish it undone again, to prevent which he
|
|
engrossed him to himself, and kept him drinking. This cursed method
|
|
many take to drown their convictions, and harden their own hearts and
|
|
the hearts of others in sin.
|
|
|
|
2. The city was very sad upon it (and the other cities of the kingdom,
|
|
no doubt, when they had notice of it): <I>The city Shushan was
|
|
perplexed,</I> not only the Jews themselves, but all their neighbours
|
|
that had any principles of justice and compassion. It grieved them to
|
|
see their king so abused, to see <I>wickedness in the place of
|
|
judgment</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+3:16">Eccl. iii. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
to see men that lived peaceably treated so barbarously; and what would
|
|
be the consequences of it to themselves they knew not. But the king and
|
|
Haman cared for none of these things. Note, It is an absurd and
|
|
impious thing to indulge ourselves in mirth and pleasure when the
|
|
church is in distress and the public are perplexed.</P>
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